Best Animated Short

The main award went to I Died in Irpin, directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Anastasiia Falileieva. This Czech-Slovak-Ukrainian co-production tells the story of the protagonist and her partner fleeing Kyiv for Irpin during the events of February 24, 2022. The international jury – Sara Koppel, Raman Djafari, and Aneta Ozorek – praised the film’s powerful connection between the global and the personal: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine – which has destroyed communities and killed thousands – is ongoing. In the midst of this horror, a young woman is trapped in a house with her unfaithful boyfriend and his parents. This film shows how the political and the personal intertwine, painting a vibrant and emotionally rich document of the lived experience of a survivor. In all its pain, it leaves the viewer with hope and a belief in resilience and resistance.”

The jury awarded the Special Mention to the French film Exploding Girl, directed by the duo Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel. The film follows the story of Candice, a girl who explodes two or three times a day. “Living in this moment means living in an age of genocide, oppression, rising authoritarianism and climate catastrophe. What anchors many of us are the people we love – the people who make us feel like we belong. This powerful film gives voice to the painful feeling of losing that love amidst the horrors of our times. It is a warning message: If we don’t change things now, this will not end well,” said the jury.

Best Student Animated Short

The same jury awarded the Anča Award for Best Student Animated Short to Mother’s Child by director Naomi Noir. This Dutch film explores the fusion of motherhood being a full-time carer for her disabled son. The jury praised the film for telling a story with sensitiveness and bringing dignity to the conversation about society’s most vulnerable members.

The Special Mention was awarded to a film that portrays the world of a small child facing loss and finding comfort in loving imagination. This recognition goes to the German film Pear Garden by Shadab Shayegan, an author originally from Iran.

Best Slovak Animated Short

The student film Overture by Jakub Hronský from UMPRUM – the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague – won the Slovak competition. The film depicts humanoid insects whose presence and actions continuously alter and transform the surrounding world of a Bratislava housing estate. The jury – Sawako Kabuki, Lea Vidaković and João Gonzalez – praised the film's striking visuals and "Kafkaesque" atmosphere

The Special Mention went to Boiling Shapes by Samuel Škrabálek from the Slovak Academy of Performing Arts. This student film impressed with its “unique framing and surrealistic world-building.”

Best Animated Music Video and Best Animated Short for Children

The Music Video Jury – Aurelia Aasa, Tzor Edery, and Martin Smatana – awarded the Anča Award to Taiwanese director Jeci Chen for her video Castle. The jury was captivated by its slimy, medieval-inspired universe, where bodies are used as building material.

The Special Mention went to director Julian Gallese for his music video Autopollo. The Costa Rican entry was praised for its original aesthetic and dynamic camera work.

The Best Animated Short for Children was selected by a special children’s jury, who awarded the Belgian film Bobel’s Kitchen by Fiona Rolland. The story follows a poisonous red mushroom that bakes delicious cakes – though everyone is too afraid to eat them.

All winning films will be included in the Best of Fest Anča 2025 screening programme.

The 18th edition of the Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2025 is financially supported by the Audiovisual Fund, the LITA Fund, and the SPP Foundation.

Organiser
 ANČA Civic Society 

Co-organisers
 Town of Žilina
 Žilina-Záriečie Station
 New Synagogue
 Žilina Town Theatre

Main partners
 The festival is financially supported by the Audiovisual Fund
 Animation Festival Network
 Creative Europe Media
 DELL
 ViewSonic

The event is held under the patronage of the Mayor of Žilina, Peter Fiabáne, and the President of the Žilina Self-Governing Region, Erika Jurinová.